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The City of Steamboat Springs has amended the current ordinance regarding refuse containers in an attempt to keep the public and wildlife safe and deter
conflicts.

Why the Ordinance?
Steamboat Springs City Council adopted the amended ordinance in 2015 because
of the increasing number of bear and other wildlife encounters in town
to ensure the safety of the public and animals. When wildlife has
access to trash, they are drawn closer to homes which creates
potentially dangerous situations between the animals and people. The
City asks for your compliance with these laws to help keep wildlife
where they belong - in the wild.

What Has Changed From The Previous Ordinance?
The changes to the previous ordinance involve Commercial Properties in Steamboat Springs. The new ordinance makes it mandatory for commercial properties to use an Approved Wildlife Resistant Trash Container at all times when the container is outdoors.

An Approved Wildlife Resistant Container is a container used for the storage of refuse that has been approved for use in the City of Steamboat Springs by the Director of the Department of Public Safety. Current trash containers/dumpsters can be retrofitted in order to meet the requirements (providing they work). Approved containers or retrofits to existing containers will need to be obtained through the various waste management companies in town. All City of Steamboat Springs owned containers will be switched over in order to meet the new requirements.

Requirements for residential properties (ordinance adopted in 2005) have not changed however enforcement will be stepped up. Residential requirements include storing refuse containers (if not Approved Wildlife Resistant Containers) indoors at all times except between the hours of 6:00am and 8:00pm on trash pick up days.

All commercial properties within the City limits, including properties used for special events and properties that are the site of construction activities, need to follow the new regulations. The Steamboat Springs Police Department will be actively enforcing the new ordinance.